EMPOWERING RESIDENTS OF THE VALLEY.

Byline: Hal Bernson 

THERE'S been a lot of talk about secession these days. I was involved in a movement 20 years ago to have the Valley become an independent city. The debate today is a little premature for secession, but it certainly addresses other matters which need to be aired such as the inequity of city services and a lack of respect shown by one side of the city for another.

Our Founding Fathersbequeathed us a great heritage when they sacrificed themselves for the right of self determination. ``When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,'' wrote the signatories of the Declaration of Independence 220 years ago.

AB 2043, sponsored by Assemblywoman Paula Boland, R-Granada Hills, is not so much a Declaration of Independence but rather a ``Declaration of Equality.'' I support it as a highly symbolic expression of the desire of one group of people to express their rights to self determination without interference or impediment by another group of people.

The Boland Bill is enabling legislation. It is not a secession bill. In fact, it would likely take many years before any secession movement might come to pass.

The Local Agency Formation Commission would have to review any plan that would be formulated. In this plan, all the details we keep hearing questioned and debated would be considered.

This would include city service such as water, sewer, police, fire, sanitation and infrastructure. It would include revenue generation. It would include taxes.

Actual secession and the formation of a new city are very complex matters and should not be equated with the passage of enabling legislation such as the Boland Bill.

While I am not advocating secession at this time, neither am I opposed should there be justification for it, and, I will support the right to formulate a secession plan if that is the wish of the people of the San Fernando Valley or anywhere else.

As with many of my constituents, I too am concerned that our hard-earned tax dollars are spent disproportionately. Just look at how inequitable our water rates and sewer charges are and how low police coverage in the Valley is in proportion to our population and geographic size.

In the mid-1970s, I was part of a movement aimed at breaking away the San Fernando Valley from the rest of Los Angeles. Many of the same issues that were raised by the Committee Investigating Valley Independent City/County 20 years ago are still true today.

At that time, we documented that Valley residents did not receive a fair share of services for the tax dollars that were collected.

In a report 20 years ago, CIVICC found that Valley residents contributed 40 cents of every dollar collected from Los Angeles taxpayers but received only 15 cents in services.

The residents of the San Fernando Valley area of the county contributed 16 cents of every dollar collected from L.A. County taxpayers but received back approximately five and one-half cents in services. It is widely believed that what was true 20 years ago is largely true today.

I support AB 2043 and testified before the State Assembly for its passage. I did this because I believe this bill will give us back the equity which was taken away from us 20 years ago. It will empower the residents of the San Fernando Valley to determine their own future.

If the Valley continues to be the brunt of abusive pot shots from outside the area, then Valley residents might just decide its time for a CIVICC type organization to emerge again.

If this becomes the situation, then I will support my constituents' wishes to make the San Fernando Valley a separate and independent city.

MEMO: Councilman Hal Bernson represents Los Angeles' 12th District.

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Photo: Hal Bernson